How to get and run 64 bit version of vista on T61

[jonnylaw]

So I just got delivered a T61 w/ T7700 procesors, 4gb ram w/ vista ultimate.

Of course, lenovo only offers 32 bit version of vista

So, I'm trying to upgrade to the 64 bit version of ultimate to utilzie the 4gb of ram.

Do I have to purchase a retail packaged copy to achieve this?

It is possible to run a 64 bit os on the T61 w/ the t7700 processors on the t61 correct?

I was confused, b/c although the processor is listed as being compatible w/ 64 bit architecture, when I looked at the advanced settings--it showed x86 instead of x64 next to processor--which windows help states is only compatible w/ 32 bit os--but this makes no sense-

Can someone help please

[SHoTTa35]

well to get it you'd probably have to hit up lenovo for 64bit recovery discs or pay MS some shipping fee and they'll send you the 64bit disc. I heard they are available.

The CPU is capable so no worries there.

[ryengineer]

well to get it you'd probably have to hit up lenovo for 64bit recovery discs

Lenovo won't be sending recovery discs for a license other than the one that comes with the machine, the only exception applies here is with the recent free Vista upgrade from Moduslink in the beginning of this year where the original machine came with Windows XP and users were provided with the upgrade and then sent appropriate Vista recovery media, when required. So lets say somehow IF lenovo sends you 64 bit recovery discs, that would be illegal to use.

or pay MS some shipping fee and they'll send you the 64bit disc. I heard they are available.

That does not apply to oem license. The only solution for OP is to buy a 64 bit retail version of Vista.

[f00kie]

well to get it you'd probably have to hit up lenovo for 64bit recovery discs

Lenovo won't be sending recovery discs for a license other than the one that comes with the machine, the only exception applies here is with the recent free Vista upgrade from Moduslink in the beginning of this year where the original machine came with Windows XP and users were provided with the upgrade and then sent appropriate Vista recovery media, when required. So lets say somehow IF lenovo sends you 64 bit recovery discs, that would be illegal to use.

or pay MS some shipping fee and they'll send you the 64bit disc. I heard they are available.

That does not apply to oem license. The only solution for OP is to buy a 64 bit retail version of Vista.

Someone on NBR posted a detail post of how to get the 64-bit disks from CompUSA for $5. I think they are called Windows AnyTime disks.

[ryengineer]

Someone on NBR posted a detail post of how to get the 64-bit disks from CompUSA for $5. I think they are called Windows AnyTime disks.

That's merely an installation media, you'll need to have 64 bit retail license to activate the OS, which the OP certainly does not have, yet.

Lenovo is also packing up such disks with new thinkpads; now-a-days for customers, they are useless unless the user go ahead and buys the license from Microsoft or elsewhere.

[hypertrophy]

Do a search for Clean Install by orev over at note book reviews .com. It should be located in the HP/Compaq forum, but you'll be able to use it for your thinkpad. A more specific guide is called Vista Clean install 32/64 bit by stallen over at the same site. It's located in the lenovo/ibm forum. He'll direct you to orev's clean install guide, but he'll go a step further by listing the drivers you should download from the T61 driver matrix page.

Edit: You can use an Anytime Upgrade disk or the original Vista media to do a clean install.

Just a note, those are not guides for piracy! You should only use the Vista version that came with your machine.

[jonnylaw]

So I purchased a 64-bit upgrade from microsoft online, but the setup utility does not run b/c it says I have a x86 chipset and not a x64 chipset. I have two t7700 processors, I thought those have 64-bit architecthure.

Anyone know what drivers I need to install before I can get the upgrade installation to work?

Do I need to do a "lean install"?

Anyone hava link to the best source for instructions on how to do this?

In other words, I now have, purchased, a valid 64-bit vista license, but cannot install the os, b/c the chipset is reading x84 instead of x64--Is this just a matter of intalling a differnent driver?

Can anyone help?

Thanks!

[ryengineer]

Please read this very carefully, the answers to all your questions are there.

[jonnylaw]

Apparently it is NOT possible to "upgrade" from a 32-bit version of windows to a 64-bit version. I was sent a misleading e-mail which suggested I purchase a download--which I did--which I requested a refund on--and which should be issued to my cc in 5-7 business days.

Now I have to go out and buy the retail version

[barrywohl]

Please read this very carefully, the answers to all your questions are there.

Very helpful. Thanks.

Still, I thought I read somewhere that the cost of an "upgrade" to Vista Ultimate 32 included the choice to install Vista Ultimate 64.

It must have been an urban legend that muddled up my mind.

[SpawnyWhippet]

Has anyone had any problems finding T60 64-bit drivers for Vista or XP 64 Pro?

Any problems or performance degradation running 32-bit applications on 64-bit OS?

[SpawnyWhippet]

Well, I'm up and running Vista Ultimate x64 with no initial problems other than I am in SATA compatibility mode as it blue screens on boot in AHCI mode. Anyone got the lowdown on installing the correct driver?
(I downloaded it from Lenovo already, but Vista doesn't like the taste)

[tinkererguy]

Well, I'm up and running Vista Ultimate x64 with no initial problems other than I am in SATA compatibility mode as it blue screens on boot in AHCI mode. Anyone got the lowdown on installing the correct driver?
(I downloaded it from Lenovo already, but Vista doesn't like the taste)

I have 64 bit Vista Ultimate loaded up, with only two issues noted in AHCI mode, but I do have the following quirks:
1) I have to use Fn+F5 after suspend/resume to get Bluetooth to wake up again, toggling Bluetooth radio off/on
2) My video driver dies every hour or so, briefly the screen goes blank and then a popup saying that igfx stopped responding

I have had excellent luck with drivers for my peripherals as well, and all the Lenovo ThinkVantage stuff went in and work just fine. Key for me was dongle-free Bluetooth mouse use, this one pairs fine:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouse ... px?pid=084

Note, this was a fresh install of Ultimate 64 bit, there is no upgrade path to 64 bit from 32 bit (preload or otherwise).

This T61 will probably be 32 bit preload in the end (I backed up), but my new soon-to-arrive T61p will be 64 bit, and perhaps the video issue won't surface with the NVidia chip that unit will have.

See the details of my ordered T61p system at this post:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 023#333023

[SpawnyWhippet]

Well, I managed to get all hardware and ThinkPad software running on 64-bit after about 24hrs without issues.
Performance was considerably slower than on XP Pro.
I removed all the nagging UAC, ran in full Administrator, disabled all the flowery stuff but performance was still poor for both boot times and application performance.
However, the final nail in the coffin was that time after time after time I came across multiple problems with 3rd party software being unable to run on 64bit Vista, so I have rolled back to XP Pro.
No problems now, much better performance, all my software runs and a lot more free disk space.

[tinkererguy]

I should have mentioned, my 64 bit install is on a T61 6465CTO system, which differs from yours.

Separately, I have used Vista 32 bit on slight older T61, and did notice that the SATA mode seems finicky: had trouble with boot CDs like ubcd4win for example (had to go compatible), whereas the 6465 T61 doesn't seem to require this BIOS setting fiddling. And I do recall getting a BSOD (blue screen), but quickly did a Vista boot DVD, Repair, and was back in action again quickly. Too late now I realize...

You got me thinking it's time I do some measurements between Office and VMware Workstation performance, using Vista 32 bit (3GB recognized) and Vista 64 bit (4GB recognized).

Glad full backups and restores are so easy in Vista Ultimate (bare metal restores work, and they're fast!), much easier than dealing with Ghost or something like it.

[tinkererguy]

Well, I'm up and
2) My video driver dies every hour or so, briefly the screen goes blank and then a popup saying that igfx stopped responding

Turning off Aero for now, and I'm very stable. Once I get 64 bit Vista on my own T61p (just got ship notice), then will try Aero again and see how it goes (Nvidia).

And I should clear up that the Bluetooth mouse issue might be specific to my mouse (which is supposed to be pared with the bundled- dongle). Doesn't take long to hit Fn+F5, then toggle Bluetooth radio off and on again.

Finally, speed "seems" good, a whole lot more responsive than my T41 with 2GB and XPSP2, especially for VMware Workstation VMs.